ON THIS DAY.

October 9, 1779: Ned Ludd, a worker from Leicestershire destroyed two stocking frames in protest of new machinery being introduced at his workplace, displacing workers. Ned Ludd's actions later became the inspiration for other workers who felt their jobs where threatened by the innovations of the early industrialization. The so-called Luddite Riots peaked in 1810-20 when workers in the textile industry were introduced to the new phenomenon of rationalization.

The Luddites, who where masked and worked at night, enjoyed the support of many locals wherever they came, but being caught could have very grave consequences indeed. A mass trial at York in 1813 resulted in many hangings and transportations, which, along with reviving prosperity, seemed to cool the enthusiasm and the Luddite riots soon became history.

Alson on this day: 1899: The first petrol-driven motor bus began operating in London; 1940: Birth of Beatle John Lennon; 1947: The first call between a car telephone and a phone in a plane was made above Wilmington, Delaware, in the United States; 1967: Legendary Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara captured and shot in the village of La Higuera near Vallegrande in Bolivia; 1988: Death of England & Newcastle United footballer Jackie Milburn, uncle of the Charlton brothers; 1995: Death of former Prime Minister Lord Home of the Hirsel.

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Publication:	The Birmingham Post (England)
Date:	Oct 9, 2000
Words:	213
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